Related Articles

Colin Barlow, the president of Geffen, admitted to being "sceptical" about the Pontiff's musical appeal before hearing him.

But he said: "When you are sitting in the Basilica listening to it, you suddenly think that you are hearing something that could be incredibly special.

"It's a beautiful a piece of music as the soundtrack to the film The Mission.

"The Pope has got almost a lullaby tone to the way he sings," he said.

He thought the album would make "a great Christmas present".

One aspect of the album will be reassuringly traditional – it will not be sold as a digital download.

"I think this is going to be something that you would like to own," explained Mr Barlow. "To break up a beautiful album digitally would be wrong."

He hoped it would sell in large numbers globally, noting: "There's quite a huge Catholic fan base out there."

A proportion of profits will go to a charity that will provide musical education for poor children around the world. The remainder is expected to be split between the Vatican and Universal. Details have yet to be finalised.

The music executive said Geffen also had plans to re-record an album of Pope John Paul II praying in 1999, called Abba Pater, which he said had been put to an "odd" keyboard accompaniment, with classical backing tracks instead.